Digital content and product ordering apparatus and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ordering products using an editorial content provider. The editorial content is displayed to the user preferably as an electronic magazine. The electronic magazine includes magazine page numbers and navigation controls that enable a user to browse the electronic magazine in a manner similar to a conventional paper magazine. The editorial content includes user selectable links to products identified in the editorial content. A user may select the user selectable link and be presented with a product purchase page associated with the product identified in the editorial content. The product purchase page enables the user to place an order for the product. A third-party product supplier may present the product purchase page.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 510,632, filed on Oct. 10, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of conducting commercial transactions and presenting editorial content. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] On-line commerce is a growing field with specialized Internet retailers such as Buy.Com and Internet websites of brick and mortar retailers, such as Macys.com vying for consumer traffic and sales. Frequently such websites enable consumers to browse or search products and services and place orders for items selected. Searching for the desired product sometimes involves browsing lists of hits, clicking for further information, from various search “hits” until a desired product is located. In the description that follows, “product” will mean any product, service or any other item t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a shopping experience with editorial content by displaying the content in an electronic format that simulates a printed magazine or catalog. The reader can navigate through the content in a way that mimics page-turning, and can also access product links within the content to request information or purchase products. The display options include a folded view option that simulates a folded magazine or other publication. Overall, the invention enhances the advertising and shopping experience of online editors and providers of on-line commerce."

Problems solved by technology

Although these forms of on-line commerce service have been successful and popular with consumers, there are certain disadvantages associated with them.

For example, searching and browsing “hits” can be time consuming and involve numerous mouse clicks to scroll, view product description pages, click back, and view other product description pages, until a desired product is selected for purchase.

This form of shopping can be time consuming and difficult particularly when sorting through numerous products.

Although such editorial content can highlight specific products, these websites suffer disadvantages in making purchasing such products cumbersome in necessitating travel to other websites locations and services—typically requiring the searching / browsing shopping process.

Another disadvantage of on-line versions of print publications is that the on-line versions typically lack the format of the print version.

These shortcomings lead to the disadvantage that a reader of a print-type publication may be familiar with and prefer a layout of a print version of the publication, however, when viewing the on-line version, the reader must search on-line for each desired article or section and then determine how to access and locate the desired section.

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